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You May Not Kiss the Bride

Movie review with Tanna Dang,
Owner of The Wedding Cafe, Eden in Love and Fred+Kate Events

Where and with whom did you see the movie?

Ward Theaters on a Saturday night with my hubby Bryson. We had a date night that included buttery popcorn, Peanut M&Ms, kakimochi and Snow Caps.

Overall what did you think?

You May Not Kiss The Bride was a really cute movie. I’m a huge Katharine McPhee fan (I’m a diehard Smash junkie), so it was fun seeing her gallivanting in Hawaii. It was a light, romantic comedy that made you laugh, smile and say, “I think I know where they filmed that!” the entire time.

Without giving away the ending, what was one of your favorite scenes?

The wedding scene, of course! Real life or not, I’ve been to enough weddings to know there are always unique cultures and traditions, hilarious speeches, guests who love to dance, a beautiful wedding dress (and bride) and a few people who love to CHEERS the night away (many times it’s the groom). Weddings always make me smile, and I love seeing them in movies because the impossible is always possible in Hollywood!

On a scale of one to four stars, what would you rate this film?

★ ★ ★ ★, especially because it was produced locally, shot locally and featured a ton of local talent including wedding singers Ben Vegas and Maila Gibson, who recorded three tracks for this movie.

What did you think of the cinematography?

The cinematography was great. It kept you moving with the action as the movie went on. Plus, there were incredible shots of Hawaii.

Was the message/theme clear?

It was a romantic comedy that touched on love and culture with an action-packed spin.

To whom would you recommend this movie?

I’d recommend this movie to brides and grooms, for sure. When you’re engaged, you’re magnetically pulled to anything that has to do with weddings! I’d also recommend this to anyone who wants to see a fun movie shot in Hawaii. It was neat to recognize so many people, places and voices on the big screen.

Did any of the actors stand out?

YES! One of the “bad guys” was our car salesman (he had a large role). Hilarious!

Did the soundtrack contribute significantly to the film?

YES! Because I knew Ben Vegas and Maila Gibson recorded a few of the songs on this movie, we were listening for their voices the entire time. It was so exciting to hear them sing! The songs are really good; I can’t wait to hear the entire soundtrack. I have a feeling we’ll be hearing some of the songs at future weddings.

Would you buy this movie when it comes out on DVD?

Of course! I’d love to play this on our TV at The Wedding Cafe. It’s a sweet love story, and it highlights Hawaii.

What’s your favorite movie snack?

Popcorn, kakimochi and a side of jalapenos from the hot dog condiment bar. Crunchy, salty and spicy in one bite.

On a different note, what’s new with you?

We’re in the midst of our Wednesday Night Workshop series, where we welcome 150-plus brides and grooms every week to discuss different wedding topics and to meet Hawaii’s top wedding vendors in one night. Workshops are free and so much fun. Check out the schedule at theweddingcafe.net. Big news: On July 1 we launched a fresh, new wedding coordination company called Fred+Kate Events (fredandkate.com). Brides have been asking us to coordinate weddings for years, and we’ve finally brought on the perfect powerhouse team to spearhead this new division. Fred+Kate Events focuses on both local and destination weddings.